Trust provides $1.7M pre-Christmas boost to community groups

6 Dec 2016

Media Release

Community groups across Otago have received a boost of more than $1.7 million thanks to Otago Community Trust.

Moana House, a residential therapeutic community house that supports men with alcohol and drug problems, was the major beneficiary of the trust’s November funding round. The trust approved a $400,000 donation to help extend Moana House’s facilities.

“This funding means a great deal to us,” Moana House programme director Claire Aitken said. “It is a tremendous boost. This project, upon completion, will allow us to make significant improvements to our facilities. We have an ever-growing wait list and we will be able to manage this better, with more beds available, more meeting space and common areas.”

Community groups in Kaitangata and Cromwell also benefited from the Otago Community Trust’s November funding round. Kaitangata Community Centre Charitable Trust was given a $120,000 donation towards the development of its community centre, a facility that will benefit the community of Kaitangata and surrounding districts.

Cromwell Primary School received $150,000 to help build a multi-purpose facility for use by the school, Cromwell Kids Fun Club and the wider Cromwell community. The building, which will be located on the school site, has been designed to seat 350 people. 

Principal Wendy Brooks said the school was delighted to receive the funding. “It is great that organisations like the Otago Community Trust continue to support a wide variety of community projects to maximise the benefit to the community”. 

“On Friday we also heard that we have secured a $200,000 Lotteries grant, which means our long-term vision is now going to become a reality. Our hard work and perseverance have paid off and we are just thrilled,” she said. 

The community trust also made significant contributions to two major sporting projects. The Otago Hockey Association received $200,000 to go towards the development of a full-size all-weather hockey turf at King’s High School in Dunedin and Ice Inline Central Inc received $120,000 to upgrade its ice-skating facilities in Alexandra.

Otago Community Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said investing in a wide variety of community projects is a key strength of the trust. "It is great to see there are so many people working together to make a difference across Otago in a range of diverse areas and it is a privilege to be able to support them.”

The trust’s November funding round also supported 17 community wellbeing organisations with capability funding totalling $60,000. The trust’s capability building fund plays an important role in increasing organisational effectiveness and raising performance in social services and community wellbeing organisations.

Smaller donations approved at the November meeting included $200 to the Southern Cross All Breeds Cat Club; $1200 to the Karitane Bowling Club Inc; and $2000 to the Tokomairiro Community Recreation Centre.

In total, the Otago Community Trust gave a total of $1,743,912 to 67 community organisations in November 2016.

 

Otago Community Trust Donations, November 2016

Alexandra

Alexandra Primary School Charitable Trust

 $14,000

 

Alexandra Child Care Centre Inc

 $9,000

 

Iceinline Central Inc

 $120,000

Balclutha

Kaitangata Community Centre Charitable Trust

 $120,000

Cromwell

Cromwell Primary School

 $150,000

 

Pisa Range Music Society Inc

 $4,500

 

Cromwell Film Society

 $2,300

Dunedin

Otago Hockey Assn (1990) Inc

 $200,000

 

Dunedin Prison Charitable Trust

 $20,000

 

Servants Health Centre Trust

 $500

 

Connections Education & Development Trust

 $2,500

 

Ngai Tahu Maori Law Centre

 $2,500

 

Dunedin Community Care Trust

 $3,000

 

The Valley Project

 $3,000

 

Connect South (Dunedin Council of Social Services)

 $4,000

 

Straight Up Trust

 $4,000

 

Presbyterian Support Otago

 $5,000

 

Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Womens Refuge Inc

 $5,000

 

Youthline Otago Inc

 $5,000

 

Hills Radio Trust

 $9,000

 

Youthline Otago Inc

 $20,000

 

CCS Disability Action Otago Inc

 $8,000

 

Pacific Trust Otago

 $30,000

 

iD Dunedin Fashion Inc Soc

 $24,000

 

Shakti Dunedin

 $4,000

 

Otago Cricket Assn Inc

 $24,770

 

Moana House - Downie Stewart Foundation

 $400,000

 

Metonymic Trust

 $1,000

 

Waitati-e!

 $1,000

 

Roslyn Kindergarten

 $5,000

 

Talking House Charitable Trust

 $1,000

 

Athletics Otago Inc

 $1,000

 

St Kilda Bowling Club Inc

 $10,000

 

Short Film Otago

 $48,500

 

Age Concern Otago Inc

 $10,000

 

Saddle Hill Foundation Trust

 $11,300

Milton

Milton Community Health Trust

 $3,000

 

Tokomairiro Community Recreation Centre

 $2,000

Mosgiel

Taieri Musical Society Inc

 $30,000

 

Outram Charitable Trust

 $7,500

Oamaru

Waitaki Multicultural Council Inc

 $1,500

 

North Otago BMX Club

 $20,000

 

Harbour Street Jazz  Incorporated

 $4,000

 

Hampden School

 $1,000

 

CCS Disability Action Waitaki Inc

 $5,000

 

North Otago Harrier & Amateur Athletic Club Inc

 $300

 

Waitaki Community Gardens Trust

 $2,000

Otago

Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust

 $55,000

 

Te Runanga o Moeraki

 $50,000

 

The Otago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

 $150,000

 

Anglican Family Care

 $2,000

 

Catholic Social Services

 $2,500

 

Otago Polytechnic - School of Social Services, English Language Centre

 $15,000

 

Otago Chamber of Commerce

 $40,000

 

The Parenting Place - Attitude Division

 $6,000

 

Southern Cross All Breeds Cat Club

 $200

 

Otago Community Hospice Trust

 $9,346

 

Carers Society Otago

 $8,000

Other

Ronald McDonald House Charities NZ

 $11,496

 

New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation

 $3,500

 

Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust

 $3,500

Roxburgh

Roxburgh Golf Club

 $1,000

 

Teviot Valley Community Christian Trust

 $2,500

Waik/Palm

Karitane Bowling Club Inc

 $1,200

Wanaka

Alpine Community Development Trust

 $3,500

 

Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust

 $10,000

 

Aspiring Beginnings Early Learning Centre

 $10,000